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LHS Students Learn Tree-Planting Skills

It was a cold and windy 37-degree morning October 10 when 11 Lexington High School students left their comfortable classroom to get some tree-planting pointers from members of Lexington's Tree Board and Park Staff. The students are seen here examining the root bag of a Northern Catalpa with Tree Board member Dave Stenberg. This was one of 10 "Free Fall Trees" given by the Nebraska Forest Service and the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum.

Following the major Lake Renovation project started in 2015, the City has followed through with numerous projects designed to improve the parks usability, enjoyment and aesthetics. Recent improvements include new trails, an outdoor classroom and, of course, trees and other landscaping. With these additions now in place, the City identified a few fill-in areas for the new trees.

In addition to simply planting more trees, the Free Tree program goals include increasing appreciation and awareness of the value of community forests in Nebraska. Special emphasis is placed on species diversity and higher impact projects.

Free Trees for Fall Planting is supported by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretums Trees for Nebraska Towns Initiative funded by the Nebraska Environmental Trust, and by the Nebraska Forest Services Landscape Scale Restoration grant funded by the U.S. Forest Service.